The driver's side, side air bag deployed spontaneously. There was no apparent reason or cause, ie no side impact of any kind, no door slamming or other provocation. The car was parked in a garage for six hours before I sat in the car, closed the door, then BLAM! Temperature was moderate, where as the car is often parked on a city street in direct sun. Air bag deployment was a loud bang followed by smoke from an explosive, and a sting on my neck and shoulder where the bag hit me. Bits of foam from the seat interior, where the air bag was located, blew around the car interior. I suffered temporary hearing loss in my left ear due to the loud bang. I was also quite startled. No other people were at risk. No other air bags have deployed since I've owned the car, approx. 20 yrs., purchased used. I will consult an authorized repair shop, insurance agent, and a dealer service center for more info. A Saab dealer service center told me a new replacement air bag would be available from Sweden at a cost of $700. That would be in addition to the cost of repairing the seat, door frame panel, and other items. There were no prior dash board or related fault code messages. The car has never been in an accident or impacted in any way to the best of my knowledge (I saw a Carfax report at purchase).
NHTSA complaint #11605808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER SEAT TRACKS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SLIDE BACK AND FORTH SUCH THAT WHEN STOPPING QUICKLY THE SEAT SLIDES FORWARD ABOUT AN INCH. IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM ON SAABS.
NHTSA complaint #11057996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PURCHASED SAAB 9-3 2007 BRAND NEW. NEARLY IMMEDIATELY THE HEADLIGHTS KEPT GOING OUT. I FOUND MYSELF REPLACING THEM OFTEN AND TWICE WAS PULLED OVER BY POLICE WHEN I HADN'T REALIZED AND HAD JUST REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. ALSO GOT ONE KEY AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE A/C WASN'T WORKING WELL SO FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE SAAB DEALER IN SANTA FE, NM IN 2008 WITH COMPLAINTS. THEY WERE TO GET ME A SECOND KEY, FIX THE A/C, CHECK THE LEATHER ON FRONT SEAT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ELECTRICAL AND HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. THE ELECTRIC PANEL, INDICATING PROBLEMS, WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY TOOK MY ONE KEY AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD BE IN TOUCH AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF A RENTAL, I CONTACTED AND NO ONE ANSWERED. I DROVE OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NO CARS. A WOMAN SITTING INSIDE AT A SIMPLE DESK IN EMPTY GM/SAAB SHOWROOM. SHE SAID THEY WERE ALL SHOCKED, HAD NO WARNING AS EMPLOYEES AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS GONE NO RECORDS ON MY CAR. NO OTHER DEALER PICKING IT UP AS THEY DIDN'T HAVE SAAB SPECIALIST. LONG STORY SHORT, I NEVER GOT HELP FROM ANYONE, NEVER GOT THE REPAIRS, NEVER GOT THE PROMISED SECOND KEY AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT EVER SINCE. IT ENRAGES ME. ALL UNDER WARRANTY! NO COMPLAINTS OR LETTERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. I WAS SHOCKED THEY GOT AWAY WITH IT. OH AND THE ELECTRIC PANEL COVER WAS GONE AS WELL. LOST. HOW THEY GOT AWAY WITH ALL THIS IS UNKNOWN. THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED CRACKING AND PEELING THE FIRST YEAR! I PUT EXPENSIVE LEATHER CONDITIONERS ON AS WELL. NOTHING. I AM STILL FURIOUS AND STILL HAVE THE CAR. NO CORPORATE OFFICES WOULD HELP EITHER. I FINALLY GAVE UP. .
NHTSA complaint #10991551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER ELEMENT GETS EXTREMELY HOT AND HAS BURNT THROUGH THE LEATHER. THE LAST TIME I USED SEAT HEATER I WAS BURNT ON THE BACK SIDE OF MY LEG AND THERE WAS BLISTERING.
NHTSA complaint #10969056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR THROUGH TOWN AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT GOT SO HOT IT BURNED MY UPPER LEFT THIGH AND I WAS TRYING TO PULL MY LEG OUT OF THE WAY AND ALMOST CRASHED, AND WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR I SAW THAT IT HAD ALSO BURNT THE LEATHER SEAT LEAVING ABOUT A FOUR AND A HALF INCH BURN MARK ON THE SEAT ABOVE THE HEATER COIL.
NHTSA complaint #10676325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 SAAB 93 AERO. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THE WIRING OF MY SEAT WARMER. IT HAD GAVE ME A SLIGHT BURN ON MY LEFT BOTTOM/LEG AREA. GOOD THING I TURNED IT OFF IN TIME BECAUSE I ALSO STARTED SMELLING AS IF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE HAD BEEN STARTING. IT SMELT OF BURNED LEATHER AND POSSIBLY OTHER COMPONENTS. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP THERE WHERE UNWILLING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE FOR NO COST BUT IN MY OPINION THAT SHOULD BE THE LEAST OF THERE WORRIES. THIS TO ME IS A LIABILITY ISSUE AND A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10443931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSENGER AND I WERE DRIVING AND ACTIVATED BOTH FRONT HEATED SEATS ON THE HIGHEST SETTING. SOON AFTER, BOTH OF US DETECTED A BURNING SMELL AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF BOTH HEATED SEATS. UPON ARRIVAL, WE EXITED AND VISUALLY OBSERVED A SMALL BURN MARK WHERE THE PASSENGER'S LEFT SHOULDER WOULD BE. IT BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER AND SINGED THE HAIR OF THE PASSENGER. THE BURN MARK IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NICKEL AND WE CAN NO LONGER USE THE HEATED SEAT FUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #10380857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2004 SAAB 9-3 ARC HAD A DANGEROUS SEAT HEATER ISSUE. I WAS NEARLY BURNED WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WENT CRAZY. SO, HOT I COULDN'T TOUCH THE SEAT. I HAD TO STOP THE CAR AND GET OUT. THIS IS DANGEROUS!!!
NHTSA complaint #10308165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS USING MY CAR'S SEAT WARMER AND THE SEAT BEGAN TO GET VERY HOT IN ONE SPOT ON THE SEAT. I ALSO NOTICED A BURNING SMELL THAT SMELLED LIKE BURNING LEAD OR RUBBER. THE LEVEL OF HEAT THAT WAS COMING FROM THE SPOT ON THE SEAT LEAD ME TO LIFT MYSELF OFF OF THE SEAT IN ORDER TO PREVENT BURNING MY LEG. I TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF, WHICH SEEMED TO MAKE THE BURNING SUBSIDE. THIS SEQUENCE CONTINUED UNTIL ABOUT A WEEK LATER WHEN THE SEAT WARMER STOPPED WORKING. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, WITH THE HELP OF A FAMILY FRIEND I REMOVED THE SEAT FROM THE CAR AND REMOVED THE UPHOLSTERY IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND TRY TO FIX IT. UPON REMOVING THE UPHOLSTERY, WE FOUND THAT THE WIRING OF THE SEAT WARMER HAD STARTED A SMALL FIRE IN THE SEAT CUSHION AND BURNED A HOLE (3 INCHES WIDE AND 1 INCH DEEP) IN THE CUSHION. THE BACKING OF THE LEATHER THAT COVERS THE CUSHION HAD ALSO BEEN BURNED THROUGH. THE WIRING WAS NOT RECOGNIZABLE AND REPAIR WAS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. WE LEFT THE SEAT AS IT IS FOR NOW UNTIL WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE, AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO PREVENT THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION FROM OCCURRING AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10299803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2007 SAAB 9-3 4 DOOR DOES NOT ALLOW AN INFANT CAR SEAT TO BE INSTALLED. THE BACKSEAT IS TOO SHORT TO ALLOW THE INFANT CAR SEAT TO BE INSTALLED . I HAVE CONTACTED BABY SEAT COMPANIES AND THE ARE ALL THE SIMILAR LENGTH, MY CONCERN IS HOW CAN A NEW FAMILY CAR KNOWN FOR SAFETY BE ALLOWED ON THE ROAD AND A 4 DOOR NOT ALLOW ME TO BRING MY INFANT CHILD BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL? WHY HAVE LATCHES AND ALL THE OTHER SAFETY FEATURES IF ONE CAN NOT FIT A INFANT CAR SEAT REAR FACING? IF ONE SPENDS OVER 30,000 FOR A NEW VEHICLE I EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO BRING A NEW BORN CHILD HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL. I CALLED SAAB AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. THERE SHOULD BE A RE-CALL.
NHTSA complaint #10245148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. HER LEGS BECAME EXTREMELY HOT SO SHE PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE SEAT WARMER. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED WITH SMOKE AND A HOLE WAS BURNED INTO THE DRIVER SEAT. SHORTLY AFTER THE SEAT WARMER WAS SHUT OFF, THE SMOKE CEASED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000.
NHTSA complaint #10209034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENABLED DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER FOR FIRST TIME SINCE LAST WINTER/SPRING. WHILE DRIVING, LEFT SIDE OF MY LOWER BODY STARTED BURNING, AND I SMELLED SMOKE. PARKED CAR. DIME SIZED HOLE WITH SMOLDERING EDGES WAS PRESENT ON MY DRIVERS SEAT. UPON TOUCHING IT, MY FINGER TIP WAS BURNED. IMMEDIATELY DISABLED SEAT HEATER AND STOPPED CAR. CONTACTED SAAB USA. REFERRED ME TO DEALER WHERE I AM TAKING CAR TOMORROW. THEY WILL DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND DECIDE IF THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT. IN MY OPINION, AND BASED ON COMPLAINTS I'VE READ FROM OTHERS, IT IS. VERY SCARY SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10206026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE OWNED 4 DIFFERENT SAAB MODELS AND I HAVE ALLAYS HAD HEATED SEATS. THIS LAST WINTER WHILE WEARING A SUIT AND WOOL OVERCOAT I FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON MY BACK. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED MY SEAT OFF, WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR THERE WHERE COIL BURN MARKS IN MY LEATHER SEAT. THERE HAS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF A HEATED SEAT COIL CAN BURN THROUGH LEATHER, AND CAN BE FELT THROUGH AN INCH OF WOOL...
NHTSA complaint #10199518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 VECTOR STARTED TO HAVE A BURNING SENSATION ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT UNDER MY LEFT THIGH. IT WAS SO HOT THAT I HAD TO PUT A TOWEL UNDER MY LEG WHEN THE HEATED SEAT WAS ON. EVENTUALLY, AFTER 2 MONTHS OF THIS, THE HEATED SEAT QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I DID TAKE IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT BACK AGAIN TO HAVE THEM DISASSEMBLE THE SEAT. I HAVE READ ON SAAB CHATLINES THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GETTING THEIR SEAT LEATHER REPLACED BECAUSE OF BURN MARKS. I THINK THIS IS A VERY REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD CALLED TO LIGHT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT'S A BAD HEATING ELEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10185754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH MY SAAB LINEAR 9.3 TWO-DOOR CONVERTIBLE. I HAVE THE TYPE OF SEATS THAT ARE MANUALLY ADJUSTED. WHEN TRYING TO ACCESS THE REAR SEAT, THE FRONT SEAT DON'T STAY STATIONARY. THIS MEANS THAT 1) YOU CAN NOT LOAD LUGGAGE OR OTHER CARGO WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A SECOND PERSON BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY 2) THE SEAT SLIDES FREELY BACK AND FORTH WHILE PASSENGERS ARE TRYING TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE CAR. A NUMBER OF REAR SEAT PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN BRUISED BY THE SEATS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR MUCH GREATER HARM IS CLEARLY APPARENT.
NHTSA complaint #10157416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT FORWARD TO LET PASSENGERS OUT OF THE BACK SEAT THE SEAT SLID BACK AND PINNED THE PASSENGERS. 3 OF THEM SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE SEAT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY.
NHTSA complaint #10155682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A YIELD ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 30MPH. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE; HOWEVER INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED TO THE HEAD, UPPER BACK AND KNEE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE BACK AND HEAD INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED DUE TO THE HEAD REST BEING TOO HARD. NO POLICE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE CRASH SCENE.
NHTSA complaint #10149322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ADJUSTING THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT, FORWARD, BACKWARD, UP, OR DOWN, THE SEAT WILL NOT STOP UNTIL IT IS IN THE FURTHEST POSSIBLE POSITION. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #10147722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.